Treating loot boxes like ordinary consumer goods is tempting, but the reality is a lot more complex. They’re essentially gambling mechanisms wrapped in a digital storefront: the price is fixed, the outcome is random, and the perceived value fluctuates wildly with each purchase. Because of that, a pure consumer‑goods lens misses the psychological and economic dynamics that drive spending. A more suitable legal lens would blend contract law—because the purchase is a signed agreement—with gambling regulations, since the core mechanic is chance‑based. That means you’ll need consumer protection rules that address transparency, age restrictions, and fraud, but also specific safeguards against addictive design patterns. In short, they’re not “just” goods; they’re a hybrid of product and gambling, so the law has to treat them accordingly.